Adjustable shoe tree



Jan.'4,' 1944. J. FITZPATRICK ADJUSTABLE SHOE TREE Filed Oct. '2, 1942Snnentor Patented Jan. 1944 ADJUSTABLE SHOE TREE Jeremiah Fitzpatrick,Weymouth, Masa, assignol to Arnold Bros & Company, Weymouth, Mass a firmcomposed of Charles H. Fitzpatrick and Jeremiah Fitzpatrick ApplicationOctober 2, 1942, Serial No. 460,727

3 Claims The invention relates to an improvement in an adjustable shoetree having a fore part and a heel part relatively movable towards oraway from one another between extended and retracted positions.

The essential object of the invention is to provide a simple andefiective means for adjustably separating the fore part of the tree fromthe heel part for relatively lengthening the tree, or for efiecting aquick release of the forepart enabling its return to its normalretracted position with relation to the heel part, and especially toprovide a construction by which the fore part will maintain without backslip any adjusted position to which it may have been moved as the treeis used.

A further object. of the invention is to provide a construction, orassemblage of parts, that may be made entirely of wood.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to thedrawing in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of the shoe tree.

Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. l but broken away in part.

Fig. 3 is a plan, viewed from the under side of the tree.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 1-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. is a fragmentary plan of a portion of the heel part of the treeshowing a slightly modified construction.

Referring to the drawing: 6 represent the heel part of the shoe tree,and 2 the fore part. The parts are held in aligned position by aninterposed bar 3 and movable towards or away from one another betweenrelatively extended and retracted positions. The longitudinal axis ofthe bar 3 extends preferably along the longitudinal axis of the tree, orparallel thereto.

The fore end portion of the bar 3 is socketed within a cutout 4 in theforepart of the tree and turns on a cross pin or axis 5 substantiallynormal to the longitudinal axis of the bar. The socketing of the foreend of the bar within the cutout 4 is such that the fore end of the bar,in its relation tothe fore part of the tree, will be retained againstlateral displacement, the fit being a relatively snug fit.

The bar 3 is, also, socketed to have a sliding fit within a cutout 6 inthe heel part, thus maintaining the parts at all times in proper alignedposition. The bar has such extension that its rear end will enter asocket I formed within the heel part. This socket in the heel part ispreferably formed by a boring inwardly from its under side.

Located within the socket l in the heel part is a cam 8. This cam isborne by a shaft 9 to the end of which the cam is secured. This shaftextends upwardly to turn within a bearing it in the heel part above thesocket, and with such disposition that the cam will turn upon a verticalaxis beyond the end of the bar 3, and within the longitudinal axis ofthis bar, if its axis be extended, substantially normal thereto. Thedisposition of the parts is also preferably such that the cam whenturned will not engage the Wall of the socket within which it is contained but will turn freely therein. Arranged upon the shaft 9, with endbearing against the top surface of the heel part of the tree, is a knob.H by which the shaft 9 is turned. The knob is fixed to the shaft by apin it. The assembly is such that there is a coincident hearing by thecam against the top surface of the socket within which it is containedwhen the bottom end of the knob is engaging the top surface of the heelpart, consequently the cam will have permitted turning, but will be heldagainst endwise dis placement.

The cam presents a working edge 53 gradually increasing in radialextension from the axis of the cam. The edge it has wiping engagementwith the end of the bar 3, as the cam is turned, and consequently thecam will exert pressure upon the bar 3 for reciprocating the fore partof the tree from the heel part, thereby relatively lengthening the tree,depending upon the extent of turning of the cam. During this operation,owing to the aligned disposition of the axis on which the cam is turningwith relation to the longitudinal axis of the bar 3, or extension thereof, as previously explained, the center of pressure between the camand bar will be one of dead center, consequently there can i be no backslip of the fore part when projected, and the fore part will maintainany adjusted position to which it has been moved. A simple reverseturning of the cam for relatively shortening the tree will release allpressure on the bar, when the fore part may be restored to its normalretracted position with relation to the heel part.

If desired the end of the bar 3 may be bevelled, as shown in Fig. 5, toleave an'edge id lying within its longitudinal axis against which theworking edge of the cam has bearing, although this bevelling is notnecessary if the various elements are properly combined as described.

For holding together the two parts of the shoe tree, when not in use,the bar 3 is provided with a slot l5 through which passes a pin $6 inthe heel part.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable shoe tree the combination comprising an aligned forepart and heel part movable towards or away from one another betweenextended and retracted positions, a bar pivotally retained to turn onsaid fore part and be slidable within said heel part for maintaining thealigned position of said parts, and a rotary member located within saidheel part adaptable when turned and when in engagement with the end ofsaid bar to project said bar longitudinally and thereby move said forepart away from said heel part into adjusted position dependent upon theturning of said rotary member, means for mounting said rotary memberwithin said heel part whereby it may when turned engage the end of saidbar and move said bar as aforesaid, and means for turning said rotarymember.

2. In an adjustable shoe tree the combination comprising a fore part anda heel part movable towards or away from one another along a linesubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tree betweenextended and retracted positions, said heel part having a socket formedwithin it, a bar interposed between the said parts, said bar beinglaterally retained to turn within said fore part and be slidable withinsaid heel part with entry into said socket, means for pivotallysupporting said bar whereby it will turn in said fore part on an axissubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said bar, a cam locatedwithin said socket presenting a cam edge gradually increasing in radialextension from the axis of said cam, means for mounting said cam to turnwithin said socket beyond the end of said bar, in engaging relation tosaid end, upon a vertical axis within the longitudinal axis of said barif extended and substantally normal thereto whereby the center ofpressure between the cam and bar will be one of substantially deadcenter and said fore part of the tree will be projected into adjustedposition as said cam is turned, and will maintain any adjusted positionto which it has been moved, without back slip as the tree is used, andmeans for turning said cam.

3. In an adjustable shoe tree the combination comprising an aligned forepart and heel part movable towards and away from one another betweenextended and retracted positions, said heel part having a socket formedwithin it, a bar pivotally retained to turn on said fore part and beslidable within said heel part with entry into said socket, a rotaryshaft extending through said heel part from above the socket therein andentering said socket, a cam located in said socket afiixed to said shaftand turned thereby, said cam being adaptable when turned to have wipingengagement with the end of said bar and project said bar and fore partwith relation to said heel part dependent upon the turning of said cam,means for maintaining said shaft and cam against endwise displacement,and means whereby said shaft may be turned from without said heel part.

JEREMIAH FITZPA'I'RICK.

